A long second toe is actually a short big toe?

Now that winter is setting in, it’s time to start running again. I was doing some preemptive searching on ways to avoid patella femoral syndrome and I discovered something unexpected.

I am deformed!

Actually, its just my metatarsals although I could lump my scalp in there and no one would argue.

It turns out a primary cause of patella femoral syndrome is actually a short big toe called Morton’s Foot. I have every symptom of this condition that essentially creates a 2 legged stool out of your foot.

I remember watching my Grandpa stumble around acting as if he was walking on ice skates when I was a kid and come to find out, he probably was! I think both sides of my family have this condition and it will be interesting to see how treating it will affect my back pain, knee pain, shoe wear, etc.

The treatment could not be any easier, simply place a thin pad under the head of the first metatarsal or the “ball of the foot” making sure not to cover the second metatarsal. To accomplish this, cut a circle the size of a quarter for a gal or a fifty cent piece for a dude out of some insole padding. Feather the edges and stick them on the insole of each shoe or on an oder eater insole if they are attached.

You will end up with something that looks like this:

Photo curtesy of The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook.

There are for real orthotics one can order but for a couple bucks worth of padding, I think this is a cure that is worth the cost.

Happy running!